When I was in high school, I sometimes had difficulty explaining how common technology behaviors or other technology in the classroom would hurt my brain, also known as give me a migraine. Many teachers assumed that I was refusing to participate in class, but the reality is that these actions would contribute to physical pain in my brain that would make participating or even thinking extremely difficult or impossible, many of which could be connected back to my low vision and then-undiagnosed neurological condition that played a significant role in how I perceive visual information. Here are five common classroom tech behaviors that hurt my brain, and that can hurt the brains of other students with visual impairment related to eye-based conditions and/or brain-based visual impairment (also known as neurological visual impairment or CVI).
More about my personal experience
I have low vision as the result of an eye-based (ocular) condition called accommodative esotropia, which is a type of strabismus, as well as a neurological condition called Chiari Malformation, both of which influence how I perceive visual information. My vision loss cannot be fully corrected with glasses, and I experience double vision, blurry vision, and light sensitivity to both bright lights and flashing lights (known as photophobia or photosensitivity). Because environmental factors can play a significant role in how well I am able to see, I describe my own vision loss as fluctuating; in some environments, my brain plays a greater role in how I see something compared to my eyes, especially when it connects to migraine triggers.
The items in this list were originally written as part of a self-advocacy exercise when I was in high school, but I have updated some of the explanations to provide additional insight on the impacts of these behaviors, including how they continue to impact me as an adult.
Related links
- How I Explain My Brain With Chiari Malformation
- Two of Everything: Living With Double Vision
- Disability Accommodations For Fluctuating Eyesight
- Learning to Self-Advocate
- Managing Chronic Migraines in College
Intense animations/transitions in presentations or videos
When I watch presentations that have dramatic, spinning, or fast moving transitions or animations, I feel like I am on a rollercoaster or like I am being hit with a brick without ever leaving my desk or seat. Having a single image quickly move across the page, spinning effects, or flickering effects can all cause an adverse reaction and make it difficult to focus my eyes on any one thing on the screen. Even if an animation makes me uncomfortable, sometimes my eyes or brain will “fixate” on it involuntarily, so once I spot it I can’t look away. This can also happen when watching historical content, where frames may move more slowly or create flashing effects during transitions.
How to fix it
- Use minimal or subtle animations or image effects when designing presentations, and alert audiences before playing an animation or moving to the next slide
- Have the individual play the presentation on their own device so they can turn off animations or be the one to control them so that the transitions aren’t unexpected
- Check videos for flashing lights in advance, and watch video content in a well-lit room to minimize intensity of flickering effects
Related links
- How To Create Accessible PowerPoints
- How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights
- Disability and Classroom Accommodations For Chiari Malformation
- How I Access Historical Documents With Low Vision
- Recording Video Lectures For Visually Impaired Students
Leaving projectors on a bright background
When I attended a presentation at a conference many years ago, the presenter decided to keep the projector on a bright white background for 45 minutes when conducting a panel, which made it difficult for me to focus on anything other than the bright light in front of me. This reminded me of one of my teachers from middle school who couldn’t turn off their projector during class because there was no guarantee it would turn back on, so they left it on a bright blue background in a dimly lit room. Not only were the bright lights disorienting with light sensitivity, but they made it more difficult for me to see what was going on within the space due to the bright screen.
How to fix it
- Turn off the projector when not in use
- If the projector must be left on, ensure that it is in a well-lit room
- Use dark colored backgrounds when projecting information to help minimize eyestrain if possible
Related links
- High Contrast and Low Vision
- Choosing Device Wallpapers and Backgrounds With Low Vision
- How To Make Things On The Board Easier To See
- Ten Ways to Reduce Eye Strain With Technology
Related: Turning a projector on without warning
Whenever someone turned on the projector in my high school band class, the display would rapidly flicker and jump around as it warmed up, or change brightness quickly. This was a common occurrence in my other classes as well, and turning on the projector without warning would trigger disorientation, a migraine, or other adverse reaction that would keep me from participating in band as planned.
How to fix it
- Warn people before turning on/off the projector
- If possible, turn on a projector before others enter the room
- Make sure all cords are plugged into the projector correctly
Related links
- Flashing Lights and Photosensitivity in the Classroom
- How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity
- How To Organize and Identify Cords For Low Vision
Flickering fluorescent lights
Overhead lights and flickering lights can be distracting or painful for individuals with visual impairments, not to mention make it more challenging to navigate environments due to the inconsistent lighting. Alternatively, the lights may not provide enough illumination for tasks, especially for people with contrast sensitivities. While it is impossible to avoid these lights entirely, there are ways to minimize their effects.
Ways to fix it
- File work orders for fixing fluorescent lights, and mention that the room is accessed by someone with photosensitivity. This means that the repair is considered a high priority
- Use other lighting alternatives such as lamps if possible
- Wear tinted glasses to help with brightness
Related links
- Lighting And Low Vision
- Environmental Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- How Tinted Glasses Help My Light Sensitivity
- Reduce Glare In The Classroom For Low Vision Students
Cluttered page layouts
If I am reading materials or web pages in class that have cluttered page layouts with several columns of text, non-responsive layouts that are difficult to enlarge, or that have low resolution images, I’m likely going to strain my eyes to read or spend a lot of cognitive energy trying to figure out what something says instead of thinking about what I’m reading. This can also make it challenging to read items on the board; I remember I would often not see where my teacher would write homework problems because they had so many other things on the board that it just got lost in a sea of other information.
How to fix it
- Use tools like simplified reading displays to show text without background graphics and with a consistent font size and style
- Choose responsive file formats that can be enlarged or have their appearance customized, like HTML. PDFs are an example of non-responsive layouts.
- When presenting to a group, use single-column layouts for text instead of multiple columns next to each other.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- How I Read Research Sources With Assistive Technology
- Adapting Page Layouts: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Using Anthology Ally With Low Vision
Lots of background noise
Things like the sound of loud computer fans, mechanical noises, beeping noises from an unknown source, and other background noise make it more challenging for me to focus my eyes or engage in tasks, especially in classroom environments. I often feel like my brain is on pause until I figure out where the noise is and find a way to turn it off or block it out.
Ways to fix it
- Wear earplugs or headphones that can help muffle noise or make it easier to focus
- Sit away from major noise sources such as vents or hallways that can create additional background noise
- Turn off electronics when not in use, as they may emit a low amount of noise even when “asleep”
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Headphones
- Preferential Seating and Low Vision
- School Cafeterias and Low Vision
- How I Manage Conference FOMO With Chronic Illness
More examples of technology behaviors that are painful with low vision
- To browse social media content safely, I have several settings enabled to block out flashing lights and auto-play content. Learn more about the settings I use in Avoiding Flashing Lights On Social Media
- One strategy that has worked well for minimizing the effects of painful technology is remembering to take regular vision breaks to rest my eyes. I share more in Activity Ideas For Vision Breaks
- Sometimes, assistive technology is what’s hurting my brain. I share more about this in My Talk At A Future Date: What I Wish I Learned About AT Before Starting College
Published September 20, 2019. Updated November 2024